UQ Science

03/06/2026

Many important fossil discoveries have been made by citizen scientists – curious individuals who noticed something unusual and took the time to contact an expert. 🐾🦖🔍

To empower us all to be on the lookout, Dr Romilio explains exactly what to do when we come across a rock we think might have a story to tell.

https://stories.uq.edu.au/contact-magazine/finding-fossils/index.html

29/05/2026

Congratulations to Bostjan Kobe from UQ Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences on being elected a Fellow of The Royal Society, one of the highest honours in science. 🎖️

The Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy, with fellows including Charles Darwin.

Professor Kobe, a leading figure in the structural biology of infection and immunity, is one of only three Australian researchers elected in 2026, joining an exceptional group of international scientists.

27/05/2026

The sight of a saltwater crocodile basking on a mudbank is one of the most iconic and intimidating images of northern Australia.🐊

Yet the crocodiles that inhabit the region today are just the survivors of a much richer and stranger lost world.

A recent review of evidence from the past 129,000 years reveals a dramatic story of extinctions, human encounters, and survival against the odds.

UQ's Jorgo Ristevski and Nicole Lise Boivin write for The Conversation Australia + NZ.

A host of unique crocodylian species ruled the roost in Australia and surrounds for millions of years – until humans came along.

21/05/2026

Congrats to Nicholas Blersch from UQ Gatton who was named as a 2026 AgriFutures Australia Futures Horizon Scholar, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation. 🎖️🌾

Nicholas is currently studying Agribusiness at UQ, where he is exploring global trade challenges and the role of biomass in energy and fuel systems.

20/05/2026

Happy World Bee Day 🐝🌼🍯

Did you know there are 20,000 bee species around the world? One group that hold a special place in the hearts of humans like UQ's Dr Tobias Smith is the stingless bee (Meliponini).

There are an estimated 600 stingless bee species found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and here in Australia we have 11 species.

To celebrate our busy bees, we are throwing back to Dr Tobias Smith when he presented on 'The science of stingless bees' at BrisScience.

📸 Image credit: Stingless bee on a sunflower, Honeywood Hives
📸Image credit: Tobias Smith

19/05/2026

Congratulations to UQ PhD student Emily Flanagan who was selected for a national sea-training voyage 🌊🚢

Emily was one of 20 students from across Australia chosen to sail aboard the CSIRO research vessel Investigator as part of the Collaborative Australian Postgraduate Sea-Training Alliance Network (CAPSTAN).

For two weeks, Emily swapped the classroom for life at sea and experienced hands-on research conducting sampling activities, deploying equipment, and working with real data alongside leading Australian marine scientists.

The national tertiary sea-training initiative brings together CSIRO, the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies - IMAS, and the Australian-New Zealand International Scientific Drilling Consortium.

Sea the full story: https://stories.uq.edu.au/phd-student-among-next-gen-of-marine-experts/index.html

15/05/2026

Get your tickets to the next BrisScience with Professor Bryan Fry 🐍

Join Professor Bryan Fry as he explores venom evolution, toxicology breakthroughs & ecological risk.

14/05/2026

Congratulations to UQ Gatton students, Maeve Lowe and Sophie Jonsson for being named in the 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship cohort. 🏅🌾

Maeve and Sophie will join 18 high-achieving university students recognised nationally for their potential to shape the future of Australian agriculture.

The scholarship program, delivered by AgriFutures Australia, supports students in the final two years of their agricultural degrees and is designed to build long-term capability in the sector through industry placements, mentoring, professional development and national networking opportunities.

13/05/2026

What do you need to grow your career in agriculture? 🌽🌾

Hear more from Associate Professor Risti Permani.

Careers with STEM.

12/05/2026

Today we are celebrating International Women in Mathematics Day. 💜

May 12 marks the legacy of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman awarded the Fields Medal - the most prestigious award in Mathematics. Today calls attention to the women building on Mirzakhani's legacy.

In 's School of Mathematics and Physics, that work is visible in teaching, research and in the community.

We recognise and celebrate the women leading this work including Dr Barbara Maenhaut, Professor Cecilia Gonzalez-Tokman, Dr Poh Wah Hillock and Meagan Carney.

To every young woman who loves maths but isn't sure she belongs: the most important mathematics being done right now is applied, urgent, and deeply human. There's a place for you in it.